June 3 – November 11, 2023 | Group Runs at The Diamond

Celebrating 22 years of training!

Need help preparing to run a marathon? Looking to make new friends while you train? Then look no further than the Sports Backers Marathon Training Team, designed to motivate and train individuals for the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon. You’ll find yourself not just equipped with a detailed 23-week program, but a great crew of experienced coaches and inspirational teammates as well. One of our favorite perks? A dedicated SAG team that supports the weekend group training session. That’s right… water stops and Nuun right there for you while you TRAIN. So let Richmond’s running community carry you to 26.2… when you hit that final stretch at the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, you’ll be glad you didn’t go it alone!

MTT has an all new walking team! If a power-stroll is more your vibe sign up and come train for 26.2 with others looking to see the sights while speed walking. This crew is still hustling though! In order to meet the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon 7-hour course time limit we’ll be pushing participants to maintain a 16 min per mile pace while training. The has it’s own schedule and dedicated walking coaches. Come walk it out with us!

Marathon Training Team Fees

Early Bird Pricing, November 13 – 17: $165

November 18 – May 16: $175

Many of my running partners and close friendships have been developed as a result of MTT! It motivates me on weekends throughout the summer to stick to my plan which has resulted in me achieving many of my goals.
– Brittany Easter
The teams, coaches, and information we received were all amazing and exactly what I was hoping when I signed up. This was my first year and I knew nobody going in, but came away with a bunch of new running friends and a lot more knowledge about marathon training/running.
– Chris Strauss

Marathon Training Team registration includes:

  • 23-week training program. Training begins Saturday, June 3 or Sunday, June 4, with a detailed schedule for you to follow
  • Organized and supported weekly group runs on your choice of Saturday or Sunday mornings
  • Personal guidance from our veteran team of experienced coaches
  • Opportunity to earn virtual badges through milestone and challenge completion
  • A special Sports Backers Marathon Training Team shirt and a technical race shirt
  • FREE entry in the 46th Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on November 11 and all associated race benefits
  • Special Race Day support along the course from coaches
  • Clinics on subjects like nutrition, running attire, and other related topics

Register Now
Print out mail-in entry form

Through MTT, my circle of friends has grown significantly. I now have a group of friends that I regularly hang out with and run with during the off season as much I do during the training season.
– Erin Folkenroth

Please note: Training Team entry fees are non-refundable and entries are non-transferable, no exceptions.  Once we receive your entry, you will not receive a refund if you cannot participate.

Already signed up for the marathon and want to participate in the training team? No problem! Just click here on switching-races and follow the prompts. The system should only charge you the difference between the marathon and the training team, please contact us if it charges you the full amount. If you originally paid by check, you can send a check made out to Sports Backers for the difference in price between the training team fee and your marathon entry fee you’ve paid for the event. Just indicate if you’d like to train on Saturday or Sunday, with the early (6:30 a.m.) or late (7 a.m.) group, and whether you’d consider yourself a 500 miler (novice) or 700 miler (intermediate). Also include your most recent 10k time.

Income Based Rate

At Sports Backers, our mission is to inspire people from all corners of our community to live actively.  Engaging underserved populations is one of our core values and one way we act on this value is by offering Income Based Rates for all of our training teams.  These special rates are offered to those who qualify and would otherwise not be able to participate.

Those who make $25,000 or less annually or receive proven TANF, Food Stamp or Energy Assistance Benefits from Social Services and are not currently claimed as a dependent by anyone making above $25,000 annually are eligible for a special $40 rate for the Marathon Training Team.  Please provide one of the following documents for verification:

  • Verification/Eligibility letter from Social Services
  • Most Recent Tax Return

For those that qualify for the income-based entry fee, please come by our office or mail the completed mail-in entry form and your verification document to Sports Backers, 100 Avenue of Champions, Richmond, VA 23230

For more information, please email [email protected].

Entry Confirmation

Already registered? You can confirm your entry here.

Additional Info

If you can’t find the information you are looking for below, please email the head coach.

Important Rules & Notes

  • Training Team entry fees are non-refundable, no exceptions. Once we receive your entry, you will not receive a refund if you cannot participate or are unable to complete the program.
  • You may defer your 2023 Sports Backers Marathon Training Team entry to the 2024 Marathon Training Team through July 10 for $20. After that date, there will be no more deferrals. Please note that your free entry in the 2023 Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, by itself, may not be deferred to the 2024 event.
  • If you choose to run the CarMax Richmond Half Marathon or VCU Health Richmond 8k, rather than the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon on November 11, you may do so for no additional cost. You will be able to make this switch from late June through the expo.
  • All SAG/water stops are cup-less so you must be prepared with your own hydration device.
  • Strollers/Baby joggers are not permitted at group runs or in any of the events connected to the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon.

Head Coach

Carrie Parker

Carrie Parker
Carrie helps lead the Team, bringing with her eleven years of experience with the MTT and five years coaching the YMCA 10k Training Team. She actively supports and trains with many athletes within our local community. Carrie is certified as an RRCA Adult Distance Running Coach. She’s deeply grounded with the desire to see everyone get active and happy, regardless of the speed or the distances…so let’s get moving!

 

Fitness Requirements to be on the Marathon Training Team

There is a 7-hour time limit to complete the Allianz Partners Richmond Marathon, so that requires maintaining an average pace of about 16 minutes per mile for the entire 26.2 miles. Based on the industry standard pace calculators, comparable times would be about 3 hours, 20 minutes for a half marathon or 1 hour, 30 minutes for a 10k. Each participant should be able to comfortably finish four miles several times per week prior to starting the Training Team on June 3/4. We will monitor the progress of all of our participants during the early part of our training to make sure you have the fitness to complete the marathon in the required time. You must be at least 16 years of age to participate. If you are under the age of 18, you must have a parent/guardian registered for the training team and present for all group training sessions.

Clinics

There will be clinics held on everything from injury prevention to nutrition to shoes. Clinic details will be posted in the early summer.

 

Safety and COVID-19

The Sports Backers team wants to keep you moving, but only in a way that keeps our participants, volunteers, staff and communities safe and healthy.

We can assure you that we have our eye on all of the most recent COVID-19 guidelines and will make updates to our event as needed to stay within those guidelines, but most importantly to keep you safe.

Any updated COVID-19 safety policies and procedures can be found here.